The policewoman mother of an amateur Birmingham footballer accused of murdering his model ex-girlfriend in a frenzied knife attack was today charged with assisting an offender.

Melda Wilks, aged 49, from Rubery, was appearing at Bolton Magistrates’ Court. PC Wilks, who worked as a West Midlands Police schools-based officer in inner-city Birmingham, is suspended from duty.

Her football coach son, Ricardo Morrison, 22, an amateur player with aspirations to play professionally, has previously appeared in court accused of the murder of Amy Leigh Barnes in Bolton in November 2008.

The 19-year-old part-time model and actress was found with stab wounds to her face and chest by police called to her home in Bolton, on Saturday, November 8.

The teenager, whose friends included a number of Premier League footballers, died hours later in hospital.

Morrison, originally from Birmingham but currently of no fixed address, was arrested later the same night in south Birmingham.

He appeared before Bolton Magistrates’ Court on November 12 last year charged with Amy’s murder and was remanded in custody.

Wilks was arrested by Greater Manchester Police later that day on suspicion of helping her son.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: “A 49-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the murder of Amy Leigh Barnes in Bolton in November 2008.

“Melda Wilks of Rubery, Birmingham was charged with assisting an offender. She is due to appear at Bolton Magistrates’ Court.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that Melda Wilks is a serving West Midlands Police officer. She remains suspended from her duties while inquiries continue.”

Two years ago, Morrison had worked as an assistant coach at the Birmingham’s Brazilian Soccer School, part of a network of academies teaching footballing skills to youngsters.

Ms Barnes had modelled for Cosmopolitan and Nuts magazines and had appeared in Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks. Her family described her as their “beautiful princess”.

Her mum Karyn, aged 45, wept as she described Amy as a “gift from God” to 300 mourners at the model’s funeral at Bolton’s Methodist Mission.